tanabata amulets

tanabata festival amulets. wishes are written on bits of paper and tied to bamboo branches.

more tanabata dancing

still more shiramine shrine, tanabata dances

Girls do a very slow circle dance with drums around the tanabata.

shiramine shrine, tanabata dances

Tanabata dances were held at Shiramine Shrine. Tanabata is a mid-summer festival, also known as the Star Festival. It's a celebration of thwarted love [in the vein of Romeo and Juliet]. "Wish Trees" are made from bamboo and paper wishes are tied to the tree.